Ring of Fire - Here's an example of why...

... people make missions hard. Missions, in and of themselves, aren't necessarily that hard.

The Ring of Fire mission is one of "those" missions, a mission that has that mystique of being incredibly difficult, frustrating, hair-pulling. It, though, like a number of other missions, isn't really -that- hard. Rather, like Thunderhead Keep, like the Ascension missions, the people you party with make it that way.

In the Ring of Fire, The Vizier suggests--rather than using the front-door--you take the looooooong way around the island to gain access to the fortress. This, unfortunately, has the problem of burning alive, fire imps, fire imps, and more fire imps.

And that all really sucks.

Then there's the front door.

The front door, honestly, is my preference.

Why?

After all, the Vizier warns you against it.

Because it's easier.

The leader of my PUG today insisted that it wasn't the easier route, that only "pro" people do the front door, and then went so far as to suggest, "I bet you have THK bonus done, too." I had. I also felt kind of insulted, too, as if I were somehow some cut above the rest, some amazing player, someone dedicated to Guild Wars 24/7.

And I am. But not in that elitist sort of way. I just take into consideration what's going on around me.

I insisted that we take the front door. He argued with me. I argued back. And after about ten minutes of it, he relented.

It wasn't even more than thirty seconds into the fight at the front door that everything had gotten wrong.

"Pull from up there," I said. I was running toward the hill. One of the rangers followed me. Unfortunately, our battery necro charged straight for the front door.

And died.

The leader, fearing a wipe-out, said "screw this" and left.

We survived. The battery necro, amazingly enough, despite charging the door, was the only one to have died.

For those unaware, to take the front door, amass on the hill overlooking the ether seal on the right. Once there, take out the seal with bows and spells. After that's done, pull -from- the hill. At that angle, melees have to charge and bows are negated. It helps to have a trapper.

From there, clean-up and take out the remaining ethers.

This, unfortunately, is what pros do.

Once we had the doors open, we proceeded to pull the remaining patrols on the inside of the main area of the fortress. This took a little longer than expected--'cause we were two short. However, this was eventually accomplished.

We wiped out, though. Right after that. There are two mursaat patrols at the bridge. One stationary, and one that moves. I was attempting to pull one with my storm bow when the monk--I suppose he figured I needed help?--ran forward and aggroed both patrols.

So, yeah.

This is my rant.

The mission isn't that hard.

Hell, the first time I did it, troo bloo noob, our team managed it--along with the bonus.

Just people make it hard.

People jumping forward. People not listening to orders called. People insisting on being a cowboy or a hero or whatever.

I was hoping to beat that mission and prove the naysayers wrong. Unfortunately, because of both the odds stacked against us -and- the inability for people to listen to simple orders, can't do that.

All I can do is write this here and spread some wisdom.

It isn't that hard.

Just listen to orders. ;P

How'd he expect to get past the top route then?

As in with the fire and the burning and the imps and all?

The first time I did that mission we went over the top of the mountain...I thought it was actually pretty simple...I've never done the door though...I'm scared of it

Not sure why that approach seems hard to everyone. I did it first with my mesmer and henchies (and did bonus). It was easy, but then again henchies always follow your lead.

I did the RoF a few days ago with my monk. I, like you, suggested the front door approach and people were skeptical, but someone else (the other monk) said it was a good way to go, so we went.

I am not sure why, but people think it is fun to go and stand right next to the seals and then scream at me to heal them. We got the door open somehow (one warrior died about 5 times) and people proceeded to attack both seals on either side of the door. A couple more people died and were kind of mad that the monks weren't healing them (I am not sure they knew that when I run in range of the seal my energy, which I use for healing, is gone pretty quick).

So half the team decides to run past the seals, 2 of them made it and two turned back halfway...there was more aggro and all of a sudden there was me (with rebirth), the other monk (restore life), and a necro or something with nothing. I let my energy charge for a minute then called that I was rebirthing someone. A few seconds after I started the cast (and called it) the other monk runs in and uses restore life on the same person I was rezzing. And someone that was dead starts saying "What kind of monks are you, didn't you bring rebirth?" After the monk using restore and the guy he restored came back to life and promptly died again, I rezzed them both and everyone else.

We somehow beat the mission even though every time I pinged my energy and asked for everyone to wait for regen, they all went charging off after the next group...


On the flip side, I got a new group for Abaddon's Mouth. I went full prot monk and was able to keep Life Bond on everone (including the pet) with succor on the heal monk, nuker, and necro. It was a great team. I was able to keep up between 10-12 enchants and spammed Reversal, smite hex, and holy veil during the fights because that great necro kept me fully stocked with BR's (and the lifebonds + balth's helped a lot too).

During Ring of Fire I kept wondering if I would really feel like a jerk if I just left, whereas during Abaddon's it was like you always imagine PvE should be.

I went through front door with henches with my last two builds (after I smartened up) Then I did them again with the other builds and henches to skill cap.

People that insist on going the long way are more than likely playing their first toon, or were led astray somewhere by some one who thought they knew what they were doing.

But sometimes it is fun to get killed and watch the party get systematically interupted to death by about 10 imps. and not once think of running away or rezzing anyone, as the monk was bled dry by an ele trying to tank.

Yeah each time I've done that mission (except the first time obviously not knowing any better) I've gone through the front way as it's much easier. The only other times I've gone the back way is when someone needed skill cap, such as Ether Prodigy, and I've warned them the back way is hella hard. It is only hard really because of the thousands of meteor showers you receive really =) Thank god for Cry of Frustration. (EDIT: I mean Thank Dwayna =P)

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.. this time, the group I was in listened. :d

Despite being 6/8, we cleared it easy-peasy.

Well.. except for the boss.

When it's 6/8 and both your nukers have dropping, it's RED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GORED ENGINE GO hard to clear Coventina, especially when you have two monks, two warriors, a trapper, and an orders/ss necro.

We did it, though. ;D

After some clever STRATEGARIZING.

(Note: Red engine go red. :d)

Again, again, again.

These missions are not hard.

Just follow orders. Be aware of what's going on around you. Manage aggro. And don't noob.

As for people swearing THK is hard, here's a hint.

USE THE TORCHES BUT DON'T LIGHT THE FIRE. ;P

Rule #1: 90% of the people you meet online are complete and utter TWATS

Rule #2: 100% of the above group seem to congregate to Guild Wars.

That should explain your problem nicely.

Ring of Fire... is hard? Seriously? Jeez, henchmen never gave me any trouble (aside from the random accidental Aggro, but that can happen to anyone, apparently). My first time through, I made it halfway before my group got interrupted to death by those Lava Spitters. And I play a freakin' Mesmer, not a Monk.

Seriously, PvE missions are easy with henchies, if you know what you're doing. But of course, YOU have to know what's going on, because those henchies aren't going to hold YOUR hand to get through the mission.

I'm scared to try the front door, though. I just know Devona and/or Little Thom will go running in the second I whip out the Flat Bow for aggro pulling.

One of reasons why the Viziers is evil. He wants to stall you from Hell's Precipice. :P

The only problem with henchies is that they like to bathe in the Mursaat tower's aura after opening the front gate. Either way, henches are usually better than the average pug.

RoF while not particularly difficult is imo the most frustrating of the three missions.

I don't like to do it with henchies because of the fire corridor. They are soooo stupid about that spot.

The group is always the hardest part about these missions. Some people see one death and they just quit out.

The first time I did RoF I didn't even know about the side entrance becuase I got in the habit of skipping the cutscenes as my party always suggested, so I never heard the vizier say to do that.

I went on yesterday to just do some bonuses and skill caps on my ele and started with RoF. Got a pretty decent group. We got through and some wanted to continue on with AM. One party member asked if anyone had a hammer to borrow so I switched over to my Warrior to let them borrow it. I realized that I hadn't done AM and HP with my warrior yet so stuck with that character.

We got a group together for AM and went through and I got my caps. Asked the group if they wanted to do bonus, and a few said yes (including me) and one was adamant about not doing it. We argued and voted and finally got around to doing it. Then we fought all the bosses very well. We get to the end and everyone is listening and attacking seals, then guards, then guardians and taking one seal at a time.

We get down to the last seal and suddenly there are guardians coming from both sides. One was a monk and the team was split on both sides of the map. So I notice someone was attacking the final seal. Thinking that it would be pretty easy to take out that seal, get to the cutscene and rid ourselves of the mursaat, I went after it too. The team starts dropping, and I am just not doing enough dmg to the seal.

We die with one seal left when the one living member of the party (the one agruing about doing the bonus) tells us he didn't bring res. =/

So go through again with another group and make it through just fine.

Get to HP. Blah. For as few monks there, there are that many warriros looking for groups.

First try we had 3 monks! One is "afk" at the very beginning. Another goes afk about halfway through after announcing it then never really coming back.
We go on without him. We get to the Rurik cutscene and he is still gone. I get all my caps done and we get to the lich. Suddenly afk monk is back. Ok great, as the 5 of us, and one super monk were doing good so far, having one monk back was gravy.

We get to lich and he starts doing everything contrary to what should be done. He is an ambush monk. We are all dead at one point with just a ranger. She makes a valiant attempt to use her res sig on the mesmer who goes straight to trying to res me out of the fire so I can back up and start using rebirth and leave ambush monk dead.

Unfortuantely we didn't make it.

2nd attempt we get the bonus done and for some reason people started quitting out in the middle of the portal area when we get overrun with afkers and quitters (skill caps only I suspect). And a Mesmer who was dictating builds, spamming and being obnoxious as hell.

So finally I try for the last time with a friend who is a monk, some of the people from earlier in the day that I did AM with and Lina.

We had good listeners, good strategy and more importantly a good team.

Long post and probably not all that unfamiliar to you all, but felt good to get it off my chest

If anyone ever needs help with these missions please give me a ring. If I am not doing something with guildies, I will be happy to come along on any of my characters who have been that far.

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